Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) argued Tuesday that Dr. Anthony Fauci threw David Morens, his longtime advisor, “to the wolves” during his first congressional hearing since retiring.
Fauci joined the House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Monday where he faced multiple questions about Morens, a former senior advisor at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Congressional investigators found that Morens appeared to have attempted to avoid Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by using his personal email account to communicate with outside entities. Fauci denied the claims and stated he was unsure if Morens reported directly to him.
Paul joined The Hill’s “Rising” Tuesday where he said one of the most surprising things to come from the hearing, which was marked by some chaotic moments, was how quickly Fauci “threw his aide under the bus.”
“Daivd Morens has worked for 20 years for Anthony Fauci and in his opening statement, he says, ‘I barely knew that guy, he had an office in another building, hardly ever saw him, wasn’t included in my policy meetings,” Paul said. “And so, essentially, they’ve thrown David Morens to the wolves now.”
Paul continued, arguing that Morens’s testimony “directly conflicts” with what Fauci said Monday.
“And so really, I think there needs to be further investigation to find out who’s telling the truth here,” he said.
Paul suggested that the committee ask Morens if he would like to complete his testimony now that Fauci has spoken and denied the claims about doing business on his personal email.
Fauci acknowledged that it was “conceivable” that he communicated with Morens on a private email for writing “medical scientific chapters” together, but refuted the claims of official business.
Paul argued that Fauci essentially called Morens a liar and there’s a real question if Morens would “wish to correct the record.”
Paul said he’s asked the National Institutes of Health (NIH) questions that have yet to be revealed. Three years later, he still doesn’t have the answers to his questions, Paul said.
“In fact, it is my conclusion that the NIH is actually more secretive than the CIA and that’s… alarming and disturbing and really should not be tolerated,” he said.